Sleigh



(No Model.)

M. PAYNE.

SLEIGH.

No. 462,679. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

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MARTIN PAYNE, OF TROY, NE\V YORK.

SLEIGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,579, dated November8, 1891. Application filed May 16,1891. $erial No. 393,004. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, MARTIN PAYNE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Troy, in the county of Rensselaerand State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspeciiication, and inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved sleigh. Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under sideof the sleigh, showing more clearly the diverging front ends of therunners.

Like letters of reference denote correspon ding parts in all thefigures.

This invention relates to sleighs and sleds, and has for its objects toso construct the sleigh that the horse may be brought up close to thefront end of the sleigh between the shafts thereof without danger ofknocking against the upwardly-projecting front ends of the runners andat the same time to ease the pull when the sleigh is drawn uphill orover uneven ground.

lVith these objects in view my improvement consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of the runners, shafts, and bear ing strapsconnecting the sleigh to the shafts, substantially as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates thestraight tread or bearing-face of the runners, and C the curved knees orstanchions connecting the runners to the benches 1), upon which the bodyor platform (not shown on the drawings) is placed. An obliquearchedbrace E spans the forward ends of the runners, leaning backward andconnected at its crown or highest middle part I to the front side of theforward arched stanchion 0. At about the point where the lower ends orlegs of this rearwardly-inclin ed brace E i stepped into or fastened tothe runners the latter are flared laterally in anoutward direction, soas to diverge from each other, as shown more clearly at a in Fig. 3, andthe parallel side bars F are similarly diverged, as shown at f, toconform to the divergence or dare of the runners, which are connected attheir upper ends to the extreme outer ends of the side bars.

' The shafts shown at G are coupled by shackles ll to the upper side ofthe side bars F, back of the point where these commence to flareoutwardly or at a point distant from the front end about one-third thelength of the sleigh. At the point where the shafts pass or overlap thefront end of the runners they- 2 e, the shaftsare connected bya crossbar or brace I, in front of which they areinserted through loops orflexible bearing-straps J, of leather or other suitable material, saidstraps being fastened, one on each side, at the point where the runnersare connected to the flaring ends of the side bars and bearing withtheir upperfree ends against the crossbar J.

The sleigh may be ironed by braces K, consisting of thin rods of steeloriron, in any approved manner to give the requisite de gree of strengthand stiffness commensurate with as little weight as possible.

By diverging the front ends of the runners and side bars in the mannerdescribed I considerably increase the width of the front end of thesleigh to which the horse is hitched. without increasing the width ofthe track or tread, as the divergence of the runners begins only at thepoint where these commence to curve or rise. By coupling the shafts tothe side bars a considerable distance back, instead of near the frontend, as usual, I ease up on the draft when the sleigh is pulled uphillor drawn over steep or uneven ground, the play of the shafts being atthe same time limited or regulated by the loops or bearing-straps J, sothat when going uphill the direct draft or upward pull will be at theextreme forward end of the sleigh. I thus construct a sleigh or sledwhich will always run easy and cause no undue strain noon the horse.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States I. As an improvement in sleighs orsleds, the runners flared. outwardly from the point where the upwardcurve or rise commences to their top, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a sleigh or sled, the combination of the runners having divergingfront ends, with the parallel side bars flared outwardly at their frontends and connected at the point of their greatest divergence t0 the topof the flaring rnn'ners;snbstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a sleigh or sled, of I the outwardly-flaringrunners, the diverging side bars, the shafts coupled to said side barsback of'the point where their divergence commences; and the flexibleloops or hearingstraps, all constructed and combined substantially inthe manner and. for the purpose herein shown and described.

In testimony that I elainlthe foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN PAYNE. Witnesses: CHARLES E. LANSING, GEORGE L. HOLCOMB.

